STATE OF ADDICTION: Local governments get control over needle exchange programs

STATE OF ADDICTION: Local governments get control over needle exchange programs

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Updated: 9:45 PM EDT Apr 7, 2017

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WEBVTT NICE. >> PUT IT IN THERE SO THAT ITNEVER CAN STICK ANYBODY.CAROLYN: IF YOU HAD TOLD COLEBOYT A YEAR AGO HE'D BE HELPINGCLEAN UP HIS COMMUNITY, HE WOULDHAVE THOUGHT YOU WERE CRAZY.>> WASN'T THERE FOR MY DAUGHTER.HOMELESS.ADDICT. CAROLYN: BOYT WAS AN ADDICT FORYEARS.IT STARTED WITH PAIN PILLS AFTERSURGERY, AND PROGRESSED TOHEROIN AND OTHER DRUGS.LAST YEAR HE WENT TO THE SCOTTCOUNTY NEEDLE EXCHANGE TO PICKUP CLEAN SYRINGES, BUT HE ENDEDUP WITH A WHOLE LOT MORE.>> THE PEOPLE AT THE NEEDLEEXCHANGE PROGRAM SHOWED ME A WAYOUT. THE NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAMHELPED HIM GET INTO RECOVERYPROGRAMS. HE'S BEEN CLEAN FOR SIX MONTHS,AND NOW HE'S GIVING BACK WITHDOZENS OF OTHER VOLUNTEERS.>> A THIRD OF THE CALLS INAUSTIN THROUGH 911 DISPATCH ISABOUT A DIRTY NEEDLE, ANDSOMEONE'S AFRAID TO PICK IT UP.CAROLYN: BEFORE HEADING OUT,VOLUNTEERS LEARN HOW TO SAFELYPICK UP A NEEDLE AND WHERE TOLOOK FOR THEM.MOST ARE FOUND ON THE SIDE OFTHE ROAD.SCOTT COUNTY HAD TO GET STATEAPPROVAL IN 2015 TO OPEN ITSNEEDLE EXCHANGE.AT THE TIME, THE COUNTY WASEXPERIENCING THE STATE'SWORST-EVER HIV OUTBREAK.THIS WEEK, INDIANA'S SENATEAPPROVED A MEASURE THAT WOULDREMOVE THE NEED FOR STATEAPPROVAL.SENATOR ERIN HOUCHIN, WHO GREWUP IN SCOTT COUNTY, VOTEDAGAINST THE BILL.>> WE NEED TO BE MAKING SURETHAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WECAN NOT JUST ON THE TREATMENTSIDE BUT ON THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE, TO GET HEROIN DEALERS OFF THESTREETS. CAROLYN: BUT FOR BOYT, HE SAYSWITHOUT THE PROGRAM, HE LIKELYWOULDN'T BE HERE HELPING OUT.>> IT'S MORE THAN JUST A NEEDLEEXCHANGE.IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TOTHE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY NEED

STATE OF ADDICTION: Local governments get control over needle exchange programs